In a recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health, researchers from Brown University and the University of Sydney discussed the need for institutions in the Global North to practice “ruinous solidarity” in order to truly decolonize the field of global health. The study focused on the dominance of Northern institutions in global health, fueled by a “soft money” structure that relies on grant funding.
The researchers conducted interviews with 30 faculty members from a major school of public health in the United States, exploring their perspectives on shifting power to institutions in the Global South. While most participants supported the idea of decentralization, they expressed concerns about the potential impact on their own careers and livelihoods.
The “soft money” system, where researchers compete for grants to fund their salaries and research projects, was identified as a major barrier to change. Faculty members described how the constant need to secure grants detracted from their ability to make meaningful impacts in partner countries and often led to burnout.
Despite recognizing the need for a shift in funding structures, many participants expressed anxiety about the potential consequences for their own financial stability. The researchers emphasized the importance of Northern researchers and institutions being willing to sacrifice resources in order to facilitate real transformation in the global health field.
The study highlighted the need for material changes, not just symbolic gestures, in the effort to decolonize global health. The authors stressed that without significant action from elite Northern institutions to restructure their financial systems, power dynamics in the field will continue to perpetuate inequities.
For more information, the full study titled “Soft money, hard power: Mapping the material contingencies of change in global health academic structures” can be accessed in PLOS Global Public Health. The DOI for the study is 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004622.
This research sheds light on the challenges and complexities of decolonizing global health and underscores the importance of addressing power imbalances in research and funding structures. More efforts are needed to promote equity and collaboration in the field of global health to ensure meaningful and sustainable change.
